"OF THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS OF AN AMERICAN CITIZEN"

XXXVI.

OF THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS OF AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.

377. In all the constitutions, Federal and state, the people have reserved to themselves certain rights and immunities, which none of their governments are allowed to interfere with; and it is important that you should understand these.

378. As an American citizen, you are a free man; and no one has a right to enslave your person, except for crime, of which you must first be convicted, upon a fair trial in open court; or to take from you your property, except by due process of law.

379. You have a right to believe what you please; to worship God as you please; to express your opinions on all subjects freely (but you may be punished for libelous attacks on your fellow-men); to print what you please (with the same restriction); to assemble with whom you please, for lawful and proper objects; to petition the state or Federal Government for redress of grievances.

380. You have a right to be arrested only for cause mentioned in a proper and legal warrant, served by an authorized officer of the law, who must show you his authority.

381. You have a right to be released on bail, unless charged with a capital crime; and to be produced before the nearest court, on a writ of habeas corpus, in order that that court shall decide whether your arrest and confinement were properly made, and for sufficiently probable cause.

382. You have a right to a speedy trial by jury, to be confronted with the witnesses against you, to engage a competent person for your defense, and to know at once and definitely, before your arrest, what you are charged with.

383. You have a right to appeal to the proper court for protection to your person and property; and if the constituted authorities fail to protect you, you have a right to damages for their neglect.

384. You have a right to be secure in your house against searches by officers of the law, except on proper warrant, which must first be shown you, and for sufficient cause.

385. You have a right to keep and bear arms, but not, in most of our states, to carry them concealed upon your person.

386. You have a right to sue for damages any officer of the law who arrests or tries you in an unlawful manner.

387. These are the sacred and inalienable rights of all American citizens, and no constitution or law can deprive him of them. They make him secure against unjust or usurping rulers, and against unscrupulous attacks from a fellow-citizen. They enable the citizen to be safe against injustice, or to obtain, by summary or immediate methods, redress against unjust attacks. They are possessed by all the people—women and children as well as men.

[POLITICS FOR YOUNG AMERICANS, By CHARLES NORDHOFF, AUTHOR OF "THE COMMUNISTIC SOCIETIES OP THE UNITED STATES," "NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, OREGON, AND THE SANDWICH ISLANDS," "CALIFORNIA FOR HEALTH, PLEASURE, AND RESIDENCE," ETC. A REVISED EDITION FOB SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES. NEW YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE. 1886. Pgs. 127-28]